I woke this morning remembering that I' m one step closer to 40. I went through most of the day without anyone at work knowing that it was my special day. Of course once I got home, it seemed like everyone was trying to get a hold of me. My family and I went out for a nice dinner, but we kept getting interrupted by phone calls. I soon found out that our dear friends posted my birthday on FACEBOOK along with how old I was!!
I remember my 5th birthday or maybe it was my 6th birthday. . . oh well. I got to have it at McDonald's!! We sat at round tables made out of stone or something. No Happy Meals back then, just cheeseburgers and fries. There was only one McDonald's on Kauai at that time, so this was a big deal.
Well, McDonald's don't cut it when you're turning 39! Anyways, I had a nice day and a wonderful dinner with my family and friends. Thank you for all the birthday wishes!!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Back to Work!
Wednesday, Aug. 26 started our new school year - yeah!! Excitement and dread filled our home that morning (boys were excited, I was dreading my first REAL day back to work). I had been going into the office for a week now, but Wednesday was the first day back for the students -blah! I was a little excited and took pictures of the boys, but in the back of my mind, I knew how much my feet were going to hurt and how exhausted I would be when I got home. I wasn't disappointed. I was in pain, but it quickly went away and I was left with memories of how many children and parents I helped that day.
I think most of the people I work with are at the school because they have a heart for kids. It's definitely not for the money. You can be the fourth assistant to the Assistant Superintendant and get paid as much as a first year teacher in our school district. Isn't that sad!! Our motto is "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND," but in most places teachers and aide are losing their jobs. In our kindergarten classroom, we have 27 students and only 1 teacher and 1 aide. That's 13.5 five/six year olds each!
I can go on and on about the administration and how things need to change. The truth is that I won't quit, I'll probably retire at this job because it's what I love.
My grandma Joyce was a teacher, maybe that's where I get the desire to do what I do.
Thanks a lot grandma!
I think most of the people I work with are at the school because they have a heart for kids. It's definitely not for the money. You can be the fourth assistant to the Assistant Superintendant and get paid as much as a first year teacher in our school district. Isn't that sad!! Our motto is "NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND," but in most places teachers and aide are losing their jobs. In our kindergarten classroom, we have 27 students and only 1 teacher and 1 aide. That's 13.5 five/six year olds each!
I can go on and on about the administration and how things need to change. The truth is that I won't quit, I'll probably retire at this job because it's what I love.
My grandma Joyce was a teacher, maybe that's where I get the desire to do what I do.
Thanks a lot grandma!
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Tunda and Lightning!
I've been afraid of thunder and lightning as long as I can remember. Two days ago we had a lightning show that really scared me. I've never seen lightning like this. We could see it hitting the ground. It sparked 15 fires in our area, 13 in Spokane, and 5 in North Idaho. Some of those fires burned hundreds of acres.
The thunder rumbled and shook our house. At one point it felt like someone was rolling a big boulder on our roof. It was 11:00pm and we were all up and in one room. It took me about an hour to fall asleep after the storm passed. Our friends had everyone sleep in the basement that night. Those kind of thunder and lightning storms are unusual for around here.
On Kaua'i we had quite a few thunder and lightning storms. I don't really remember seeing lightning but I sure heard the TUNDA! Usually when the thunder and lightning came we lost power. It happened a lot. Everyone knew where the candles, flashlights, and matches were. . . no big deal. Well, it was always a big deal for me! I was always afraid that the lights would go out when I was home alone. But, now that I think about it, I don't ever remember being home alone. Someone was always there. Hmmmm - I guess I was scared for nothing!
So much for that!!
Scaredy cat
The thunder rumbled and shook our house. At one point it felt like someone was rolling a big boulder on our roof. It was 11:00pm and we were all up and in one room. It took me about an hour to fall asleep after the storm passed. Our friends had everyone sleep in the basement that night. Those kind of thunder and lightning storms are unusual for around here.
On Kaua'i we had quite a few thunder and lightning storms. I don't really remember seeing lightning but I sure heard the TUNDA! Usually when the thunder and lightning came we lost power. It happened a lot. Everyone knew where the candles, flashlights, and matches were. . . no big deal. Well, it was always a big deal for me! I was always afraid that the lights would go out when I was home alone. But, now that I think about it, I don't ever remember being home alone. Someone was always there. Hmmmm - I guess I was scared for nothing!
So much for that!!
Scaredy cat
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Back to school
I recently took my boys shopping for school clothes and then went grocery shopping. I should've planned it on different days.
I remember my mom taking my brother and I school shopping. We went to the same store every year. I just can't seem to remember the name of it. We didn't have a mall at that time. What would my son do without a mall. No American Eagle, No Hollister, No Aeropostale, NO WAY! We're in Middle School now - come on! Luckily I found him all those 'name brand' shirts for about $5.00 each online. My younger son doesn't really care about those kind of things right now. He's more interested in the Mario Cart backpack and lunch bag. Needless to say, I came home about $150 poorer, my feet swollen, but at least my boys were happy! Thank goodness I don't have a girl. Boys are like, "I want that, it fits, lets go home."
I remember my mom taking my brother and I school shopping. We went to the same store every year. I just can't seem to remember the name of it. We didn't have a mall at that time. What would my son do without a mall. No American Eagle, No Hollister, No Aeropostale, NO WAY! We're in Middle School now - come on! Luckily I found him all those 'name brand' shirts for about $5.00 each online. My younger son doesn't really care about those kind of things right now. He's more interested in the Mario Cart backpack and lunch bag. Needless to say, I came home about $150 poorer, my feet swollen, but at least my boys were happy! Thank goodness I don't have a girl. Boys are like, "I want that, it fits, lets go home."
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Hurricanes in Hawai'i
I only bring up the subject of hurricanes because my parents were just recently preparing for one to hit Maui. It was down graded to a tropical storm but still caused some much needed rain for the island.
Many massive hurricanes have hit the islands but the one I remember the most is - Hurricane Iwa. It hit Kaua'i during Thanksgiving in 1982, I was twelve years old. Yes, I just gave my age away - for those of you still trying to calculate, I will be 39 this year and next year, and the year after that!
Well, electricity was out for about 3 weeks where we lived but fortunately we had a gas stove/oven and were able to cook our thanksgiving dinner. We actually cooked a lot of other people's turkeys too. I remember our house being full of people, some related, some not. We played cards near the kerosene latern, took showers by flashlight, hand washed our clothes with a scrubboard and a big metal tub. . . . it was quite an experience. As a kid, I didn't mind it at all, it was fun!
Once the road ways where clear and we were able to drive around the island well, that was just devastating. To see our family and friends who lost everything, it still brings tears to my eyes. Houses flattened, beaches gone. . . .
Many massive hurricanes have hit the islands but the one I remember the most is - Hurricane Iwa. It hit Kaua'i during Thanksgiving in 1982, I was twelve years old. Yes, I just gave my age away - for those of you still trying to calculate, I will be 39 this year and next year, and the year after that!
Well, electricity was out for about 3 weeks where we lived but fortunately we had a gas stove/oven and were able to cook our thanksgiving dinner. We actually cooked a lot of other people's turkeys too. I remember our house being full of people, some related, some not. We played cards near the kerosene latern, took showers by flashlight, hand washed our clothes with a scrubboard and a big metal tub. . . . it was quite an experience. As a kid, I didn't mind it at all, it was fun!
Once the road ways where clear and we were able to drive around the island well, that was just devastating. To see our family and friends who lost everything, it still brings tears to my eyes. Houses flattened, beaches gone. . . .
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Camping on Kaua'i
My family and I recently went camping near Mt. Rainier with our dear friends. This reminded me of how we would go camping at Anahola beach on Kaua'i every summer. Of course, during our Mt. Rainier camping trip we had all the comforts of home like hot showers, a microwave, and a nice trailer w/beds to sleep in. Not at all like camping at Anahola beach. Cold showers from a spiket near a tree, sand everywhere, and a nice sleeping bag on the floor of a tent!
As reflect on those camping trips at Anahola, I realize that I would never camp like that now. Trailers are the way to go! Of course, I wouldn't trade those summer camp experiences for anything in the world. No TV, no video games, just a lot of fishing, swimming, making sand castles, and family time.
That is the most important thing for me. Family time. Even though my kids experienced a different kind of 'camping' than I did when I was a child, I'm so glad that we had that family time together.
As reflect on those camping trips at Anahola, I realize that I would never camp like that now. Trailers are the way to go! Of course, I wouldn't trade those summer camp experiences for anything in the world. No TV, no video games, just a lot of fishing, swimming, making sand castles, and family time.
That is the most important thing for me. Family time. Even though my kids experienced a different kind of 'camping' than I did when I was a child, I'm so glad that we had that family time together.
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